Evaluating Furniture Marks of Quality

Quality…… Like beauty is more than skin deep. You can always pay less, buy youll never get more!

Two Categories of Furniture Casegoods Upholstered goods

Factors to consider when selecting furniture… Size of space and scale of furniture Function Economy Durability/construction Maintenance Beauty and character Built-in or modular

Two Categories of Wood Hardwood: (loose their leaves in the Fall) ash, cherry, maple, oak, pecan, teak, rosewood, walnut, mahogany and poplar. Softwood: (keep their leaves in the Fall) cedar, cypress, fir, pine and redwood.

Solid Wood Very expensive Does not use any plywood, particle board or veneers Can warp and expand

Veneer Cutting Methods

Wood Veneer Thin slice of wood adhered to plywood, multi-density plywood (MDF) or craft paper backing. Dates back to early Egypt and Rome Used extensively in 17 th century by Thomas Chippendale Allows for intricate designs and more affordable pieces. Book Match End Match End Match Slip Match Herringbone

Construction Methods Dovetailed Mortise and Tenon Tongue and Groove Doweled Mitered

Plywood Composed of an odd number of sheets of wood glued together at right angles to each other. Count the number of plys. Always look at the thickness of drawer bottoms Used for large flat surfaces as solid wood tends to warp. Covered by veneer and trimmed out in solid wood edges.

Reconstituted Wood MDF, OSB, particleboard Polymer adhesives, (petroleum based) Ideal for furniture using laminated surfaces Some lesser quality will swell and expand if it gets wet.

Melamine and Laminate Chemicals, carbon, nitrogen and hydrogen White powder condensed with formaldehyde and heated to create a hard surface. Low pressure (LPL) High pressure (HPL)

Wood Finishes Protect and enhance Sanding and filling Staining Transparent film

Types of Finishes Shellac - oldest films that isn't resistant to moisture, alcohol or heat Varnish - made of oils and resins, varnish is more durable for moisture concerns such as outdoor furniture. Varnish is usually flammable. Typically brushed on. Polyurethane - synthetic resin that is extremely durable comes in flat, satin and glossy - used by a lot of do-it-yourselfers. Can be oil-based or water- based. Lacquer - resin, solvent-based finish that is more durable than Varnish. Often comes pigmented and creates a shiny finish. Typically sprayed on. Catalyzed lacquer is a very durable finish used by office furniture manufacturers. It uses chemicals int he drying process vs. evaporation only Water-based UV coatings are being used in sustainable manufacturing processes. It uses UV radiation as a curing process.

Checklist… Door and drawer fit well Drawers have glides and stops Drawer glides easily when pulled Drawers have dust panels Drawers are lined Drawer sides are finished Drawer interiors are smooth Doors swing open without squeaking No rough edges on hardware Entertainment units have hole (grommet) for electrical cords Wood grain matches on table leaves, drawer to drawer, etc. Distressed finish is random looking No racking or twisting when lifting one edge

Upholstered Goods

Four evaluation points Fabric Springs Filling-padding Frame

Fabric Well applied, tightly woven material Thread should match Small stitches Patterns should match Skirt should lie flat

Springs Drop-in Coil Sinuous or zig- zag Eight-way hand tied coil Web eature=youtube_gdata_player

Filling - Padding Polyurethane Foam Foam Rubber Polyester Fiber fill Down Spring Down

Filling: Polyurethane Foam Most used today Does a good job in shaping and stuffing Synthetic Memory

Filling: Foam Rubber Not used anymore – breaks down over time. Smells like rubber Replaced by polyurethane foam

Filling: Polyester Fiber Fill Used as a batting that wraps around the cushion core Dacron

Filling: Down Goose Feathers Most expensive Considered Luxurious Tends to settle and requires fluffing after each use.

Filling: Spring Down Innerspring coils surrounded by foam, wrapped in Dacron Polyester.

Frame Hardwood (elm, poplar, gumwood, birch, ash or oak). Kiln Dried Legs should be an integral part of the frame Center leg on long sofas Dowel construction with corner blocks, glued and screwed together.

Checklist….. Seats are comfortable Backs are free of bumps and hard spots Frame is sturdy, doesnt creak or wobble Frame sits squarely on the floor Frame and corners are well padded Corners are braced and glued Seams and welts are straight Patterns and stripes match at seams Cushions fit snugly Buttons are sewn on securely Any moving parts clear fabric to prevent tearing Metal parts are smooth with no sharp edges

Pricing Furniture Price (wholesale, retail, net, cost) F.O.B Destination F.O.B Factory C.O.M. C.O.L.

Quality Manufacturers Thomasville Baker Henredon Kincaid Century Sherrill Broyhill Lane La-Z-Boy

Homework due on 19th Visit a furniture store and evaluate two pieces of furniture. See handout posted on website. Worth 25 points.